Former Police Officer Sentenced After Gambling Fraud Convictions
LONDON – A former Metropolitan Police officer has been sentenced after coercing multiple girlfriends into giving him money to support his gambling addiction.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Lewis Rollins, 29, from Fareham, Hampshire, was convicted of fraud and coercive or controlling behaviour after prosecutors said he manipulated women he met through dating apps while hiding serious financial problems linked to gambling.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court found Rollins guilty of two counts of coercive or controlling behaviour and three fraud offences. He had also previously been convicted of assaulting another woman in a separate trial.
The former officer received an 18-month community order and was ordered to repay £3,132.50 to one of the victims.
Court Heard Victims Funded Gambling Losses
Prosecutors said Rollins was simultaneously dating multiple women and repeatedly asked them for money to cover rent, debts and other expenses, while using funds to continue gambling.
One victim, Georgia Miller, told the court she transferred money for bets after Rollins insisted the wagers would pay off. Financial evidence showed she sent him more than £1,000 on multiple occasions.
Another woman, Alisha Steeds, gave Rollins £1,500 to help with rent payments. The court heard that some of the money obtained from other victims was later gambled away instead of being used for debts.
Trainee solicitor Emily Busby also testified that she loaned Rollins money after feeling sympathy for his situation. She later took out a £4,000 loan, giving him £2,500 after he had reportedly lost money through gambling.
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During sentencing, Judge Christopher Hehir said Rollins had effectively already served the equivalent of a prison sentence while awaiting trial proceedings.
The judge stated that, had Rollins remained on bail throughout the case, he would likely have received a prison term of two years and nine months.
“You are to some extent a fortunate beneficiary of the chronology of circumstance”, Judge Hehir told the former officer.
In a victim impact statement, Busby said the experience left her with financial and emotional damage that continued years later. “This experience has also affected my trust in the police”, she told the court.
Rollins had previously appeared on BBC Radio Essex in 2023, discussing his attempts to overcome gambling addiction before the criminal proceedings concluded.
The case adds to wider concerns in the UK around gambling-related financial harm and the impact addiction can have on relationships, debt and criminal behaviour.
Readers affected by gambling-related harm can find information and support resources through our responsible gambling guide.
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